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It’s Christmas time and with the Yuletide spirit in the air, HHDX wanted to give you, our loyal readers, a chance to unwrap the present that is -- Esther Baxter. Having gyrated alongside your favorite emcees from Petey Pablo to Ludacris, Ms. Baxter is gearing up to step out on her own.
With movie and television offers on the table, this buxom beauty is aiming to make her transition smooth off of the pages of magazines, right into your living rooms. The scintillating photos pale in comparison to the actual thing. For your pleasure, HHDX sits down with the illustrious Ms. Esther Baxter as she talking about The Game’s diss track, questions the origins of the label “video ho”, and explains why video vixens cannot be your children’s role models.
HHDX: First, let me say thank you for taking the time out to do this interview with us. How are you doing?
EB: I am fine.
HHDX: I asked Vida Guerra this question, as well, but The Game came out with his song Wouldn’t Get Far to a positive response from the rappers and men within our community, while the women who appear in these videos have said much of nothing. What are your feelings about that?
EB: I mean, I don’t really know. Honestly they weren’t talking about me. But if you’re speaking in terms, I heard the interview and they asked The Game why he said the things that he said. He said that it was personal. I don’t know him to speak on him, but in general, I feel that it’s really messed up that he airs out his personal business in his songs.
HHDX: But you have to admit that there is a stigma attached to being a “video ho”. No matter if you’re not sleeping with anyone or not, you will be looked at objectively. So, how do you escape that stigma and can it ever be wrongly applied to women in this business?
EB: I don’t consider myself a video girl. I don’t feel like I’m in a labeled category. We work just like everyone else does. Honestly, I don’t feel that the title is disrespectful. I don’t even know what to say about the situation, because it sounds like it is stupid for anyone to say that. People have been calling video girls, video “hos” since the beginning. But there are a majority of young women who aren’t like that. Doesn’t necessarily mean that the entire world is like that, though. But, if you really think like that, then there are girls who are promiscuous in every industry. The Game, in his song, even spoke on a couple of actresses in the video, so are they movie ho’s? You don’t hear any actors saying that about their fellow actresses? So, why only in hip-hop are women referred as that term, in such a disrespectful manner?
HHDX: So, why is it even applicable in this genre? “Real” models, such as the ones that appear on America’s Next Top Model don’t have to worry about that. Why?
EB: I really don’t know. It’s really a shame that hip-hop made this the way it is. I don’t think that a white man came up with that title. Our black men has came up with this term, video ho, and labeled us. I don’t know what to say about that. Like I said before, male actors aren’t going to categorize their female actresses, at least not in public or in the press. That would be an ignorant thing to do. Personally, if anyone were to call me that, I would walk away. I wouldn’t stoop down to anyone’s level if they called me that to my face.
HHDX: Do you feel that this is just a bridge into getting into that industry? Is there any room for stacked women like yourself?
EB: Yeah, I definitely believe that it is a stepping stone. It is so much easier to get into other aspects of the industry. If you’re comfortable in front of the camera, you can blossom that into doing television and movies. I don’t believe that it is hard to crossover. There are several actresses who did music videos first. I don’t understand why people who’ve made it in the industry as actresses haven’t stood up and expressed their roots. I believe that it’s not because it’s looked down upon. There are a lot of white people who love the way that we look in the videos. But I think that it’s angry black men who are upset because they didn’t get a chance with those types of women. It doesn’t bother me because I’m going to be who I am. People are going to talk shit all the time. They’re going to start rumors, but as long as you’re focused, you’ll make it. I think that to a certain point, maybe there’s room, but I don’t think that right away they’re going to make a way for thicker women. I think that the clothing looks better, more people are curvy.
HHDX: Longevity is vital in any career that you choose to embark on. But with video models, it seems to be a “here today, gone tomorrow” type field to be involved in. Women like Buffie know to get their money while they can and keep it moving; whereas, Melyssa Ford and a few others try to parlay it into something bigger. Where do you place yourself in that mix?
EB: I plan on getting more into acting. It’s just a matter of having the right people backing you and taking acting classes. I have received seven offers for movie roles for me to appear in. I had to get rid of my management, though. There were a couple of movies that I was interested in. They weren’t terrible roles, it just wasn’t something that was working out due to my management not doing their jobs.
HHDX: The climate is continuing to shift as it seems that young women are looking to videos or appearing in magazines as an opportunity to gain validation. Is hip-hop and the art of these videos contributing to the lowering of self-esteem amongst our black women?
EB: The parents ultimately have to choose their children right and wrong. They have to be parents and tell their children what’s real and what’s not. It’s just like those Red Bull commercials or Laffy Taffy commercials. You don’t get wings after drinking that stuff. Your head doesn’t turn into a balloon after eating that candy. So, with music videos, everyone doesn’t look like that. Everyone doesn’t ride around with ten beautiful women with great bodies. All of the women who are in the videos, know that they’re beautiful and revel in the fact that they know that. Plus, they’re adults. It’s up to them [the parents] to teach them [children] that they’re beautiful. You can’t put us in the role to be your child’s models growing up. We have a job to do as well. You have to do it yourself, instead of letting others do things for you. The weight of being responsible for how your child grows up does not fall upon our shoulders.
HHDX: So, if you believe that there is beauty in the art – what are your plans to continue to express your individual sexiness?
EB: I am going to continue doing what I do. Taking pictures, I love being a beautiful model. My hard work is paying off. I am hoping that it branches off into other things. You have to appreciate being beautiful. Say, for instance, Danica Patrick -- they were saying because she did a cover of a magazine in a swimsuit that it was bad. She’s a beautiful, young woman, who is successful at what she does, why not show it? I will continue to show off my body because I love it.
HHDX: When it’s all said and done, you can no longer do the video thing anymore, what do you believe would be your highest moment of achievement?
EB: To receive my very first Oscar for an award winning movie. I’d rather win for something where I have to be outside of my element, outside of my comfort zone. I want to show people that I can act. I don’t want my first award to be something for a like a Monster’s Ball.
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